Ning'ou Qu

First, students are assigned to different corners in the classroom to answer four questions according to their own situation (06:30). This step is simple and they only need to write down Y for Yes or N for No (07:48). Next, all groups move clockwise to the next group’s place (08:13) and use determiners to summarize the next group’s answers (08:39). Then, they move again to the next corner (10:09) and check the correctness of the sentences written down by their previous group (11:21). After that, students discuss how to give polite correction (11:51) before every group report and give corrective feedback to their classmates (15:05). The activity ends with students’ reflection on their use of determiners and polite language (18:20).  

Because students are at the center of my class, I always make sure the content of my class is meaningful and relevant to students’ life. As is shown in this video, grammatical knowledge is learned and enhanced through speaking and writing tasks. Apart from that, communication strategies, as well as speech-function skills of showing disagreement and making corrections, are addressed in this class as a secondary language focus. In other words, activities in my class are comprehensive and integrated, rather than focusing solely on one aspect of language learning.

What’s more, I value student autonomy and believe that they can learn best when they explore by themselves under some necessary guidance from the teacher. I ensure they have control of their own learning and provide chances for them to plan, monitor, and reflect on their performance. This activity also highlights the learning opportunities that students get from class discussions and peer feedback.